El Comite de Longmont

Background Statement

El Comité was born from the strength and courage of Longmont’s Latino community.​

On August 14, 1980, a tragic incident shook our city: two young Chicano men were shot by a Longmont police officer on Main Street after a verbal exchange. The community responded— with grief and outrage, but also with unity, resilience, and strategy and set their sites on real change through organized, long-term action.

Together neighbors and families created a fund for the victims’ families, and local Latino leaders, the El Comité founders, worked closely with the U.S. Department of Justice to organize and build power.

When the City of Longmont proposed paying for the legal costs of the officer, the community organized. El Comité protested with a candlelight vigil and hundreds of residents peacefully marched to City Hall, bringing a petition signed by more than 1,000 people. Their message was clear: relationships between police and the Latino community needed to be rebuilt—with accountability, transparency, and respect.

El Comité’s founders' advocacy for concrete program and policy changes resulted in a Document of Understanding, which served as a promise between the Latino community, the City of Longmont, the Police Department to collaborate to improve trust between the City of Longmont and local law enforcement and of the communities they serve.

From this struggle, El Comité was born—rooted in justice, driven by community, and committed to creating a better future for generations to come. Since 1980, El Comité has been a champion and trusted community resource for the Latino and immigrant community in Longmont, broader Boulder County and nearby communities.